Start one (to be repeated)
Lera(hen3ry)
Malcolm Cann
Tue 10 Oct 2006 12:58
I got out of Chichester harbour at about 15:00 because , even though the tide was with me there was a
20 knot wind in my face so progress was slow.
Once I had cleared the harbour I motored out past Nab tower and then tried to sail. I wasn't aware of the endurance of my fuel tank so I had to conserve fuel and started trying to tack across the channel.
I sailed west to the Needles and then attempted to cross, despite my best attempts everything conspired to take me back to nearly the Nab Tower, all this time the "MODERATE" sea was throwing everything including me all over the boat. Alright back on the other tack, oh look, theres the Needles lighthouse again. This carried on all night.
At 0700 I looked at the distance I had travelled towards my destination and found it to be a massive 21 miles, as there were 47 miles to go I guestimated that it would take me another 48hrs, so I decided to go home.
Now, of course,the problem was to get to Chichester before the tide was too low to get in so I tangled up my mainsail and decided to motor, being the most reliable way to do it. I arrived back at Chichester at about 1700 and have spent since then licking my wounds(bruises) and trying to recover. Have no fear I shall try again and next time I know my tank capacity is at least 16 hrs which will get me to Cherbourg anyway!